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player ready...At a time of intense focus on domestic violence, the treasurer of USA Triathlon has resigned under pressure from that position but remains on the organization’s board of directors after having pleaded guilty to assault against his wife more than a year ago.
Following inquiries from the Tribune about the case, Renny Jack Weiss of Euless, Texas, was asked to resign from the USA Triathlon board over the weekend by its leadership.
He agreed only to step down as treasurer, according to Chuck Menke, the federation’s chief marketing officer.
Weiss was still serving a 24-month probation on the assault charge when he was re-elected as board treasurer in April.
Menke said the domestic abuse case in which Weiss was involved played a role in the request for him to resign.
The 12-member board of USA Triathlon, which governs the Olympic program sport in the United States, will discuss a proposal for a hearing on the Weiss situation at its scheduled Oct. 13 meeting, Menke said.
Menke said the board had earlier rejected a proposal for such a hearing on legal advice that Colorado statutes governing non-profit organizations did not allow the removal of a board member for actions unrelated to the organization.
The federation is reviewing that legal advice as it discusses steps that could try to force Weiss to leave the board.
Menke declined comment on whether the federation looked bad in having Weiss give up one position but keep the other.
Menke said USA Triathlon had formed a task force in April to review existing bylaws and examine whether revisions are necessary to allowsanctions in cases of personal misconduct by board members.
Other U.S. federations governing Olympic sports, including swimming, gymnastics and track and field, have omnibus provisions in their bylaws or codes of ethics allowing them to investigate and sanction board members in cases of criminal or other misconduct.
The Tribune has obtained the arrest warrant and court files in the Weiss case.
His wife, then 65, told the Euless Police Department that Weiss had hit her in the face May 24, 2013, according to the affidavit for the warrant. Officers noted in the affidavit that she had extensive bruising and swelling around the eye, jaw and cheek.
The initial charge of a felony 3rd degree was reduced to a Class A misdemeanor in a plea bargain arrangement in July 2013.
A Tarrant County district court judge gave Weiss, then 68, two years of deferred adjudication “community supervision,” including 80 hours of community service. The judge ordered him to attend anger control counseling.
The case ultimately was dismissed after Weiss received an early release from the community supervision. The release order is dated April 10, 2014, six days after the USA Triathlon board announced it had re-elected Weiss as treasurer.
Weiss said he had told the leadership of USA Triathlon what had happened “right after this occurred.”
“It was never hidden from USA Triathlon,” he said Thursday by telephone. “There was no cover-up here.”
Menke confirmed that Weiss had contacted USA Triathlon immediately after his arrest and that the board had discussed it in executive session.
“USA Triathlon took the matter extremely seriously,” Menke said.
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U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Patrick Sandusky said Monday his organization had been recently informed about the case. Sandusky declined further comment on any specifics related to the case.